Overdraw-checkrein.



No. 659.972. Patented Oct. l6, I900;

.1. W. HOWLAND.

UVERDBAW CHECKREIN.

(Application filed may 4, 19004) (N o M o d e l in: WW5 Ps'ms co. wow-mac. wnswmcw. 0 l

l I FlCEt JAMES WVINFIELD HOVLAND, OF OOHOES, NE\V YORK.

OVERDRAW-CHECKREIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 659,972, dated October 16, 1900.

Application filed May 4, 1900. Serial No.15,503- (No model.)

To (add 1071,0712, may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES WINFIELD H ow- LAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gohoes, in the county of Albany and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Overdraw-Oheckreins, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful im provements in overdraw-checkreins, the object being to provide a checkrein which in use will not only exert a pressure upon the bit, but will also tighten a nose-band and which, if desired, may be controlled by the driving-reins.

The invention consists in the construction of the parts, which includes a nose-band, a strap which is attached thereto and passes through the rings of the bit, the nose-band being connected to a face-piece and to straps which extend to the check-hook of the saddle and when desired to the driving-reins in such a manner that by slackening the driving-reins the horse will be permitted to lower his head, and when the reins are drawn upon pressure will be applied to the bit and to the nose-band, as will be hereinafter set forth, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view showing the application of my invention when connected to the driving-reins. 2 is a plan view. Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the nose-band and part of the straps which are attached thereto, and Fig. 4c is a plan view of a part designed for use when the checkrein is not attached to the driving-reins.

My invention is intended to be used with a bridle and operates in conjunction with the bit thereof, and when placed in position the adjustable nose strap or band A is located just above the bar of the bit. The nose-band A consists of a strap having a buckle a, and before fastening the ends of the nose-band there is placed over the ends of the straps thereof a guard or pad A, having loops a. To the front of the nose-band there is secured in any suitable manner, preferably by stitching, a strap B, the ends I) 1) thereof, after being passed through the rings of the bit, are attached to straps c c, which spring from a face-piece 0, made up to provide diverging straps c c and c c, the latter being secured at their lower ends to thenose-band A. The face-piece C is provided with straps or parts, the ends of which are adapted to engage with buckles on another part of the checkrein.

When the horse is well broken and it is desired to provide an overdraw-checkrein which will serve its purpose independent of the checkrein, I connect the ends of the straps c of the part 0 to the buckles d d on the divided end of a strap D and connect said strap by means of the eye d with the check-hood of the saddle. The overdraw-check, such as I have described, will hold the head of the horse elevated, and when the horse attempts to lower his head such effort will be resisted by pressure upon the bit and nose-band.

When the strap or nose-band A, to which the strap B and straps b b are connected, is tightened by pressure transmitted thereto by the straps Z) Z), the nose-band will then keep the mouth of the horse closed, compelling him to breathe through his nostrils, and his mouth being kept closed will prevent his tongue lolling out. It will also be noted that the device acts so as to distribute the pull or pressure both upon the bit and nose-band.

By the employment of an overdraw-check such as I have set forth I provide one that is more humane than the ordinary check, for the strain does not come entirely upon the bit, but is distributed so that a part of the strain will come upon the nose-band. The facepiece or part 0 may be made of a single piece of leather, as shown, or of several straps which are connected. The straps c are spread to hold the nose-band in place, and by adjusting the straps Z) Z) on the straps c and the strap D the pressure on the nose-band and bit can be varied to change the position of the head.

When it is desired that the check-rein shall be under the control of the driver, I attach to the straps c a part E, having at one end buckles and at the opposite end loops, and through these loops are passed the members f f of a strap F, the ends engaging with buckles f on the driving-reins, while the eye f engages with the check-hook of the saddle. By this construction when pressure is applied to the reins the straps f will be drawn upon to tighten the nose-band and exert an upward pressure upon the bit, and when the reins are slackened the horse will be permitted to lower his head.

By providing a strap or nose-band which completely encircles the nose of a horse, said band being connected to the face-piece and to straps which extend from a face-piece to a strap which engages the check-hooknor with the check-hook and driving-rein, I provide a device in which when the horse lowers his head or when the driving-reins are drawn upon there will be exerted an upward pressure upon the bit and the nose-band will be tightened, so that the full force or strain is not solely upon the bit. The nose-band, extending entirely around the nose, will tend to keep the horses mouth closed as long as upward pressure is exerted on the face-piece and bit, and when the driving-reins are slackened or the face-piece disconnected from the check-hook there will be no pressure on the bit and the nose-band will be loosened, so that the horse can lower his head to eat or drink.

As the strap B is connected to the strap or nose-band C, the noseband will be tightened when the straps b b, which are a continuation of the strap B, are drawn upon, as said straps b b are passed through the rings of the bit prior to being connected to straps c c of the facespiece.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. An overdraw checkrein comprising a facepiece having straps which are passed through the rings of abit, a nose-band adapted to completely encircle the nose or muzzle of a horse immediately above the bit, and means for connecting the face-piece with a check-hook, substantially as shown.

2. In an overdraw-checkrein, the combination with a bit, of a face-piece having di verging straps, a strap B connected to the face-piece, to the diverging straps and to a nose-band A which nose-band encircles the nose or muzzle of the horse above the bit, and a guard carried by the nose-band, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

3. The improved-checkrein herein described consisting of a face-piece 0, means for connecting one end thereof to a check-hook, the face-piece having straps c c, c c, a strap B connected to the straps c c and to a nose-band A, the strap B engaging the rings of the bit and the straps c c of the face-piece, the noseband having on its side opposite to where it is connected to the strap B adjusting means and a guard, substantially as shown.

4c. In an overdraw-checkrein, the combination with a face-piece O and its straps or members 0 c, c o, of a strap B connected thereto, and a nose-band A attached to the strap B, of a part E connected to members 0 c of the face-piece O and a strap which extends from the check-hook to the part E and from thence to the driving-reins, substantially as shown.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES WINFIELD HOWLAND.

Witnesses:

JOHN WELOI-I, WILLIAM COUGHLIN. 

